Oh that sneaky Eldrick.
The worst kept secret in golf was revealed on Thursday, falling in line with the DogLegNews prediction of the first PGA Tour appearance for Tiger Woods in 2018.
This one was a no brainer.
To the surprise and shock of absolutely no one, Woods announced that he’ll show up in three weeks at Torrey Pines to compete in the Farmers Insurance Open.
Pretty simple thought there — Woods has won eight times at Torrey Pines, including the 2008 U.S. Open, which was his last victory in a major. Yeah, it’s been nearly 10 years.
As recent as last week Woods and The Great Stiney aka Mark Stineberg, were himing and hawing about when Woods would make his 2018 debut. Woods went so far as to blow smoke up everyone’s posterior with the declaration that he’d be a the Genesis (L.A. Open) “in one form or another.” Correct us if we’re wrong but basically Woods has one form and that is the one he showed off at the Hero World Challenge, so if there is “another” form we’d sure like to know what that might be.
So after his four-day stint at Torrey Pines (Jan. 25-28), we’ll see Eldrick again in Los Angeles on Feb. 15 for the Genesis. Real surprise there as well, the tournament benefits his foundation. Better show up, better play.
Eldrick and Stiney put their PR heads together and came up with this prepared statement to herald Woods’ appearance at Riviera for the Genesis:
“I’m very excited to be back at Riviera. I haven’t played at Riviera in a tournament in a very long time. To be able to play in an event that I used to come to as an amateur, as a junior and now as tournament host, that is on one of the most historic sites in all of golf, it’s a dream come true.”
Obviously it wasn’t a “dream come true” before this year as Woods has steadfastly avoided Riviera Country Club.
He’s never won there.
